Conead huehn



(No Model.)

(LHUEHNV THILL COUPLING.

- u PETERS PMm-Lilbognpiun wuhinnm nu:

UNITED STATES P T OFFICE.

CONRAD HUEHN, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ROBERT Y. MOOONN ELL, OF SAME PLACE.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 377,716,6ated February 7,1888. Application filed November 21, 1887. Serial No. 255,815. (No model.)

To aZ Z whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, CONRAD HUEHN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in

the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Thill-Oouplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for coupling the thills, shafts, or poles of buggies, wagons, or other vehicles to the axle or running-gear.

The object of the invention is to produce a compact, strong, and durable coupling which will be entirely ,free from rattling and from cutting and be capable of being quickly connected or disconnected for the purpose of changing poles to thills, or the reverse. Fur thermore, the object is to increase the utility and effectiveness and reduce the cost of construction by dispensing with joints or bolts at the point of coupling. These objects I accomplish by the use of the device illustrated in the annexed drawings; and my invention 7 consists in certain novel features, hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which like letters of reference indicate correspondingparts, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a thill-coupling embodying my improvements in what I deem their best form. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same; Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the spring-metal portion having the double spiral spring formed in it and the ends of it turned down perpendicular to their length, forming the angles. Fig. 4 is atransverse section on the line y y of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the sheet-metal plate.

In the accompanying drawings, A designates the spring-metal portion, comprising a single piece of spring metal bent into U shape to form a loop, a, and having each of its legs a a formed with one, or more coils, a in aline with and close to each other. These coils are formed by one of the legs, a, passing up and forming oneor more coils within the loop a. It then leaves the coil a short distance from its entrance, whereby, when there is a strain exerted upon the spring-metal portion, it will tend to draw the spring together, instead of tending to pull it apart, and the spiral spring being thus decreased in diameter is better able to withstand a great strain. The other side a is bent in a similar manner, except that the coils in the leg 0. are from left to riglit,'while the coils in the leg a. will be from right to left, and the legs or shaft-straps a a leave the coil parallel to and a short distance from one another. I find by experiment that the coils for durability and strength should be in the same plane as the axle-bar. 4 The ends of the shaft-straps or legs a a are turned up perpendicular to the length of the legs or shaft-straps and form angles a, for a purpose hereinafter to be fully described.

To strengthen the coils a and render them fully capable of withstanding any strain which may be exerted upon them during their employment in a thill-coupling, a cylindrical piece of rubber or similar elastiomaterial, B, which is incased by the coils, is used. This cylindrical piece of rubber or elastic material, B, may or not be employed; but on heavy vehicles it is preferable to do so.

In order to attach the loop a of the springmetal portion A to the axle or run hing-gear, I provide a plate, 0, having longitudinal grooves d, and also holes at both ends of the plate midway between the groovesto receive the threaded ends of a clip, D. In the plate illustrated in the drawings I'have shown it with a projection, (1, having one of the holes in it. The sides of the loops a are incased in the longitudinal grooves d, which are formed to receive them, while the head or rounded portion of the loop extends out beyond the plate B and passes around the projection d. By this construction a curved groove in the plate G, connecting the longitudinal grooves for the reception of the roundedheadof the loop, is dispensed with and the device cheapened and simplified. The plate 0, and with it the loop a of the spring-metal portion A, is fastened to W shaft-straps, is first placed upon the thill.

This prevents the thill,which is of wood, from being worn, and strengthens the construction. The sheet-metal plate is also provided with holes through which pass bolts for securing parts to the thill.

A plate, F, has in its upper face longitudinal grooves f, terminating in depressions or holes f, which preferably extend entirely through the plate. The grooves f of the plate F correspond to the grooves e of the sheetmetal plate E. Together these grooves form a casing for the reception of the legs or shaftstraps a a", the angular ends of which enter the depressions or holes f, located at the termini of the longitudinal grooves,whereby the legs or shaft-straps are securely retained in the casing formed by the two plates. The plate is provided with holes for the reception of bolts, by which the several parts are secured to the thill.

From the foregoing it will be readily understood that a thill-coupling of the described construction will be compact, strong, and durable, and will be entirely free from rattling, and at the same time be capable of being quickly connected and disconnected for the purpose of changing poles to thills, or the reverse.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A thill-coupling comprising a piece of spring metal connected to the axle or runninggear and to the thill, and having formed in it a double coil, and a cylindrical piece of rubber or other elastic material adapted to be in serted in and encircled by the coil, whereby the coil is strengthened and enabled to withstand the strains and jars incident to the trav cling of the vehicle, substantially as described.

2. A thill-coupling comprising a piece of spring metal bent in the middle to construct a loop and each leg having formed therein a coil, the ends of the legs being turned perpendicular to their length to form angles, and plates provided with longitudinal grooves forming casings adapted to receive the loop and the legs of the spring-metal portion, the grooves in the plate receiving the legs terminating in depressions or holes for the reception of the angular ends of the legs, whereby they are prevented from being withdrawn from the grooved plate, substantially as and for the purpose described.

.3. A thill-coupling comprising a piece of spring metal bent into U shape to construct a a loop and having formed in each leg a spiral spring, the ends of the legs being turned perpendicular to their length, forming angles, a plate provided on its upper face with grooves and secured to the axle or running-gear by a clip, a sheet-metal plate secured to the thill and having stamped or otherwise formed therein grooves, and a plate provided on its upper face with grooves terminating in depressions or holes, into which the angle ends of the legs of the spring-metal portion enter, substantially as described.

4. A thill-coupling comprising a piece of spring metal bent into U shape to constructa loop and having formed in each leg a spiral spring, the ends of thelegs being turned perpendicular to their length, forming angles, a cylindrical piece of rubber or other elastic material encircled by the spiral springs,which are strengthened thereby, a plate provided on its upper face with grooves and secured to the axle or running-gear by a clip, a sheet-metal plate having stamped or otherwise formed in its lower face grooves, and a plate provided in its upper face with grooves terminating in depressions or holes, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

CONRAD HUEHN.

\Vitnesses:

E. F. STILWELL, CHARLES H. STILWELL. 

